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8 order "DE WITT'S »» Acting Plays. 
I>RICE IS OEIVTS. 




DE WITT'S ACTING- PLAYS 

(Number 308) 




ALL ON ACCOUNT 
or 

A BRACELET. 



-A. Oomedy, in. One Aet, 

By JACOB ABARBANELL, 

(RALPH ROYAL.), 

Author of ''A Model Pair," "My Father's Will,'' etc., etc. 



• TOGETHER WITH 

A descnptiou of the Costumes— Synopsis of the Piece— Cast of the Characters 

—Entrances and iixits— Relative Positions of the Performera oc 

the Stage, and the whole of the Stage Business 




eto-gor 






DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

2fo, 33 Jtose Street. 




( i^* A 

NOW 3 piAYS, A 

.EADir. ) Plots. Cos 

^ tion, mail 



COMPUTE QESGRfPTIVE CATALOGUE OF DE WITT'S ASTINH 
AND DE WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, contaixiin? 
Costume. Scenery, Time of Representation, and every other inforn— . 
mailed Iree and post-paid. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS, 



^^ Piease notice that nearly all the Comedies, Farce-s and Comediettas in tfie following 
^ist o/Db Witt's Acting Plays" are very suitable for representation in ymall Amateur Thea- 
tres and on Parlor Stages, as they need but little extrinsic aid from complicated scenery or 
expensive costume. They have attained their desei^ed popularity by their droll situations^ 
excellent plots, great humor and t/t^lliant dialogues, no less than by the fact that they are the 
niodjyerfect in every respect of any edition of plays ever published either in the United States 
or Europe, ivhether as regards purity of the text, accuracy and fulness of stage directions and 
scenery, or elegance of typography and clearness of printing. 

*** In ordering please copy the figures at the comrner^cenient of each piece, which indicate 
the number of the piece in "Db Witt's List of Aotinu PLArd." 

m^" Any of the following Plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price — 13 

cents each. 



The figure folio-wing the name of the Play denotes the number of 
Acts. The figures in the columns indicate the number of characters — M. mo/c; 
F. female. 



No. 

75. 
114. 
1&7. 

93. 

40. 

89. 
192. 
166. 

41. 
141. 

36. 
160. 

70. 
179. 

25. 

60. 

175. 
'55. 

so*: 

65. 

68. 

76. 
149. 
181. 
107. 
1.52. 

52. 
148. 

113.' 



So. 

16. 

58. 
125. 

7L 
X4S. 



Adrienne, drama, 3 acts 7 

Anything for a Change, comedy, 1 3 
Apple Blossoms, comedy, 3 acts. . . 7 

Area Belle (The), farce, 1 act 3 

Atchi, comedietta, 1 act 3 

Aunt Charlotte's Maid, farce. 1 act. . 3 
Game of Cards (A), comedietta, 1 3 
Bardell vs. Pickwick, sketch, 1 act. 6 

Beautiful Forever, farce, 1 act 2 

Bells (The), drama, 3 acts 9 

Birthplace of Podgers, farce, 1 act. . 7 

Black Sheep, drama, 3 acts 7 

Blow for Blow, drama, 4 acts 11 

Bonnie Fish Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

Breach of Promise,, drama, 2 acts. . 5 
Broken-Hearted Club, comedietta, 1 4 

Cabman, No. 93, farce, 1 act . 2 

Caste, comedy, 3 acts 5 

Caught by the Cuff, farce, 1 act 4 

Cast upon the World, drama, 5 acts. 10 
Catharine Howard, historical play, 

3 acts 12 

Charming pair, farce, 1 act. : 4 

Checkmate, comedy, 2 acts 6 

Chevalier de St. George, drama, 8 9 
Chops of the Channel, farce, 1 act. 3 

Clouds, comedy, 4 acts 8 

Comical Countess, farce, 1 act 3 

Cupboard Love, farce, 1 act 2 

Cupid's Eye-Glass, comedy, 1 art... 1 

Cup of Tea, comedietta, 1 act 3 

Cut off with a Shilling, comedietta, 

1 act 2 

Cy rill's Success, comedy, 5 acts — 10 
Captain of the Watch (The), come- 
dietta, 1 act 4 

Daddy Gray. Jrama, 3 acts 8 

Dandelion's Dodges, fan c, 1 act 4 

David (lanick, comedy, 3 acts 8 

Dearest Mamma, comedietta, 1 act, 4 

Dearer than Life, drama, 3 acts 6 

Deborah (Leah) drama, 3 acts 7 

Deerfoot, farce. 1 act 5 

Doing for the Best, drama, 2 acts.. 5 
Dollars aud Cents, comedy, S acts. . 9 



Dreams, drama, 5 acts 6 

Duchess de la Valliere, play, 5 acts . . 6 

Easy Shaving, farce, 1 act 5 

Everybody's Friend, comedy, 3 acta. 6 

Estranged, an operetta, 1 act 2 

Faust and Marguerite, drama, 3 acts, 9 
Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials, 

interlude, 1 act 4 

Female Detective, drama, 3 acts.... 11 

Femande, drama, 3 acts 11 

Fifth Wheel, comedy, 3 acts 10 

First Love, comedy, 1 act 4 

Foiled, drama, 4 acts ~ . 9 

Founded on Facts, farce, 1 act . . . . 4 

Garrick Fever, farce, 1 act 7 

Gertrude's Money Box, farce, 1 act. 4 
Golden Fetter (Fettered), drama, 3 11 
Goose with the Golden Eggs, farce, 

1 act 5 

Go to Putney, farce, 1 act 4 

Happy Pair, comedietta, 1 act 1 

Hard Case (A), farce, 1 act .2 

Henry Dunbar, drama, 4 acts 10 

Henry the Fifth, historical play, 5 38 

He's a Lunatic, farce, 1 act 3 

Hidden Hand, drama, 4 acts 5 

His Own Enemy, farce, 1 act 4 

Home, comedy, 3 acts 4 

Household Fairy, sketch, 1 act 1 

Hunting the Slipper, farce, 1 act 4 

High C, comedietta, 1 act 4 

Hunchback (The), play, 5 acts 14 

If I Had a Thousand a Year, farce, 

1 act 4 

I'm Not Mesilf at All, original Irish < 

stew, 1 act , 3 

In for a Holiday, farce, 1 act 2 

In the Wrong House, farce, 1 act, . . 4 

Isabella Orsini, drama, 4 acts 11 

[ Sha'l Invite the Major, comedy, 1 4 

Jack Long, drama, 2 acts 9 

Joy is Dangerous, comedy, 2 acts. . . 3 

Kind to a Fault, comedy, 2 acts 6 

Lady of Lyons, play, 5 acts 12 

Lame TJxcuse, farce, 1 act 4 



ALL ON ACCOUNT OF 



A BRACELET, 



A Comedy y in One Ad. 



By JACOB ABARBANELL, 

(RALPH royal), 

Author of'A Model Pair" "My Faihefs Will," etc., etc. 

/ h * TOGETHER WITH 



r 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES— CAST OF THE CHARACTERS— EN^ 
TRANCES AND EXITS — RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORM- 
ERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE 
BUSINESS, 



NEW YORK ! 

DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

No, 83 RosM Street. 
Copyi-ight, ISS), by A, T, B. Dn Witt. 



ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 

CHARACTERS. ^ A^ 
Harry Osgood, a young stock-broker. 
Louise, his wife. 
Augustus, a clerk at Tiffany's. ' 
Arabella. Primrose, a seamstress. 



TIME OF REPRESENTATION— THIRTY MINUTES. 



TIME— The present. SCENE— A sitting room. COSTUMES— Modem . 



PROPERTIES.— A bracelet, two revolvers, a dress, and other articles to sew; 
a parcel for bracelet, newspaper, card-case with cards, parrot, lap-dog, band- 
boxes. 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 



R. means Right of stage, facing the Audience ; L. Left ; C. Centre ; R. C. Right 
of Centre ; L. C. Left of Centre. D. F. Door in Flat, or Scene running across 
the back of the stage ; C. D. F. Centre Door in the Flat ; R. D. F. Right door in 
the Flat ; L. D. F. Left Door in the Flat ; R. D. Right Door ; L. D. Left Door ; 
1 E. First entrance ; 2 E. Second entrance ; U. E. Upper Entrance; 1, 2 or 3 G. 
First, Second or Third Grooves . 

R. R. C. C. L. C. L. 

^P~ The reader is supposed to be upon the stage, facing the audience. 



^j^SS^i^ 



TMP92-008533 



All on Account of a Bracelet. 



SCENE. — A sitting-room. Entrances c, l. and r. ; practical icindoio 
L. ; sofa, chairs, table, etc.; on table books, card-case, newspaper. 
Time, morning. 

Arabella discotered sitting l., sewing. 

Arabella. Such a lovely bracelet 1 Dead gold, chased surface, 
and solitaire m the centre. And only one hundred fifty dollars ! 
I'm sure Augustus could even get a discount on account of his being 
a clerk at Tiffany's, where I saw it in the show window. I told 
him he needn't make love to me any more unless he brought me that 
bracelet. I've set my heart on it, and I'm going to have it. When 
a woman will, she will, you may depend on it. 

Enter Harry Osgood, r. 

Harry. Good morning, Arabella. 

Ara. Good morning, sir. 

Harry. Has my wffe come down yet ? 

Ara. I believe she is still in her room. 

Harry. Do you know, my dear, you look particularly charming 
Ihis-morning ? 

Ara. Thank you, sir, for the compliment. It's well your wife 
didn't hear it. 

Harry. She'd be jealous, you mean. 

Enter Mrs. Louise Osgood, r. 

Pbhaw ! can't a man acknowledge beauty wherever he sees it without 
raising a domestic hurricane ? 

Louise (stepping foj^icard). No, sir, he cannot, and has no right to 
either. Arabella, leave the room. 

Ara. (going— aside). She's a perfect wildcat for jealousy. There'll 
be a scene, I'll warrant. [Exit, r. 

Harry (l.). So, my dear, you've been listening, with the usual 
penalty. 

Louise (r.). You're a perfect brute. 

Harry. A perfect brute — and only one year married ! I was an 
angel at this time last year. 

Louise. You think that, having secured some confiding creature 
for life, you can let your fancy roam at your own sweet will, un- 



4 ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A BKACELET. 

mindful of the torture you inflict on your poor caged victim, {crosses 
ioij.) 

Harky (crosses to it.). The poor caged victun was very eager to 
have herself entrapped. 

Louise. Arabella t^liaU leave us this very day. I'll not have any 
pretty seamstresses around the house. The next one I engage shall 
he as ugly as night. 

Harry. Mercy forbid ! I could not endure an ugly woman. It 
is not my fault, my dear Louise, that the sense of beauty is so strong- 
ly developed in me. It was that which attracted me to you. You 
are the most beautiful woman in the world — in repose. Only you 
mustn't wag that little tongue of yours so much. Now, don't let 
Arabella suffer on my account. She's a good girl, I'm sure. You 
can't get a better seamstress. I'll promise not to pay her any more 
compliments, and you promise not to discharge her. 

Louise. You defend her Ycry warmly, it seems. However, I will 
promise on one coudiiion. 

Harry. Ah, the e is a condition, (aside) Some new bonnet, I'll be 
bound. I beheve my wife gets up these spats on purpose to make 
me shell out. 

Louise. I saw such a pretty bracelet at Tiffany's. 

Harry (aside). By Jove 1 I thought so. 

Louise. It's in the window — you can't help noticing it. Dead 
gold, chased, with solitaire diam.ond. I went in and priced it. It's 
only one hundred and fifty dollars. 

Harry (aloud). Only one hundred and fifty dollars I 

Louise. If you'll make me a present of that bracelet 

Harry. Mrs. Osgood, are you aware of the awful fact that C. C. 
and J. C. has tumbled two points, and that I'm long of that stock. 

Louise (crosses to r.). Please confine your gibberish to AVall street. 

llA-URY (crosses to -L.). In plain English, then, I'm on tbe point of 
being slaughtered, like the veriest lamb, in the stock market. If the 
long expected boom doesn't strike that stock to-day and send it up 
flying, I'll be wanting money to pay my car-iare home, much less to 
buy bracelets for you. 

Louise. Oh, of course, you've always got some excuse. Do I 
want a new bonnet, you are a bull and the bears are clawing you. Do 
I want to go to the opera, straightway you become a bear being gored 
by the bulls. It's quite refreshing to hear you announce j^ourtelf a 
lamb. Theie's some hope you'Jl grow into a sheep one of these days. 
I«ever (bought when 1 consented to marry a broker that I woi'dd 
hear nothing the whole day but the vernacular of the butcher-shop. 
(crosses to l,.) 

Harky (crosses to r.). I assure you, my dear, I'd be only too happy 
to buy you that bracelet, or a dozen of tiiern, if I could afford it. But 
I'm deucedly hard up just now. You must give a fellow a chance. 
If C. C. and J. C. goes up 

Louise. I see you're bound to thwart my wishes. Yery well, IMr. 
Osgood, I'm very meek and patient 

Hariiy. Oh, a very lamb. 

Louise. But too much is too much 

Harry. Which is a self-evident proposition. 

Louisk. And I may retaliate when you least expect it. 

Harky (hums). " Oh when I was single my pockets would jingle; 
Don't I wish I were single again." 

Louise. Ugh, you brute. [ Exit, n. 



ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 5 

IIaehy. There she goes off in a pet. Oh, woman, woman, how 
dear you are before marriage — how dearer after. I'm sure if I had 
the dollars to spare, I'd buy that bracelet for her. But with C. C. 
and J. C, in the dumps and my pockets correspondingly empty, I 
don't see — {while speaking he has picked up the newspaper ami examined 
the stock list) Hello 1 hello ! {reads) "Great excitement at Fifth Ave. 
Hotel last night. A general bull movement inaugurated. C. C. and 
J. O. rises four points. It is expected that at the opening of the 
board to-day, that long depressed stock will be found to head the list." 
(th}'oios do (Di paper) Hurrah ! the boom has come at last. I must 
hurry to my office and sell out before it tumbles again. Now Louise 
shall have her bracelet. Ah, there's her card-case, {takes card fro7n 
case at table, and without I'loking at it, puts it inhispocket) I'll stop at 
Tiffany's on my way down town, leave this card, and have ihemsend 
the bracelet to the house. It will be a pleasant surprise lo her after 
my decided refusal, {puts on hat andcoai) It's wonderful though how 
she docs manage lo have her way in everything. I declare, if she 
were in "Wall street a week, she'd have them all, bulls and Ik ars and 
lambs, under her thumb. ^ \_Exit, \i. 

Enter Arabella, ii., with dress. 

Ara. Thank goodness, they're gone and I'm left alone in peace. 
How Mr. Osgood can stand this constant bickering on his wife's 
part, I'm sure I can't understand, {sits and sews) He's a nice enough 
man, but she — oh, she's a perfect terror. If she'd flare up in that 
way against me. I'd give her a piece of my mind, that I would. Here 
she comes, all ready to go out. Thank Heaven for that. 

Enter Louise, e. 

Lo^ibE, Now that mj' husband is at Imsiness, I'll just slip out to 
see a friend of mine, I shall leave yon in charge of the house and I 
wish you to make time between your sewing to take a peep into the 
kitchen and see that the cook prepares the noon-day lunch. And if 
you can get that dress ready in time for me to we >r this afternoon, 
you may occupy the rest of the day in mending some of the clothes 
you will find in my wardrobe. 

Ara. {demurely). Anything else, ma'am ? 

Louise. No, except that there's the parrot and my lap-dog to feed. 
You must sec to it that the dear pets do not suffer on account of my 
absence, 

Ara. Of course. 

Louise. If any one should call, you will answer the bell and pre- 
sent my excuses. I believe that's all. 

Ara. {ironically). Oh, you believe fo. 

Louise. None of your, sarcasm, mi^s. You will do as I bid j-ou. 
That's what you are paid for. {Exit, c. 

Ara, {rises, throws dress on table). Is it ? I guesis not. I'm to be 
seamstress, cook and lackey all in vno, am I ? And to take care of 
the parrot and dog, too 1 Well, I never ! If that isn't impudence, 
I'd like to know what is. I shan't attend to the lunch. For my 
part the cook may spoil it entirely. I only wish she would. And 
people may pull the bell off the wire before I answer it. If my lady 
wants to go gadding about, I shan't take care of her brutes. And I 
won't sew a stitch either. She'll not bo back till noon and I'm not 



^ ALL ON ACCOUNT OL' A BRACELET. 

going to few the skin off my bones in her abseure. Kow, if 
Augustus could ouly manage to get off and come here, biinging the 
bracelet with him, wouldn't we have a jolly time, {bell ringn) There 
goes the bell. I shan't answer it, that's certain. I wonder who it 
is, though ? I'll peep out of the window and see. {looks outofinndoic) 
Tiffany's delivery wagon, I declaie. And there's a man at the door 
wiih a parcel in his hand. Good gracious, if it should be the bracelet, 
and for mc ! (rushes out, l., a pause, re-enters, i-., icith parcel) It is 
addressed to me. There it is as plainly as can be written : ]\Iiss 
Arabella Primrose. I'm in a perfect flutter of excitement. I'm sure 
it's from Augustus, (opens parcel) The bracelet 1 (holds it up) I knew 
it. This proves he loves me. I would give him ever so many kisses 
if he were only here to receive them. In his absence I'll kiss the next 
best thing to him. (kisses bracelet, then puts it on) How lovely it 
looks ! How it becomes me ! Is there no note, no word from him? 
Kone? Ah. I have it. He wants me to guess wlio sent it, just as if 

1 don't know. I'll wager he'll le here himself during llie day. Don't 
I wish the dear fellow would come, so that I could thai;k him and 
tell him how much I love him. (bell rings, i-he looks out of icimclotc) 
Good gracious, there's Mrs. Osgood already back and not a stitch 
sewed, the lunch i ot prepared, the parrot not ii d and ihe lap-dog not 
attended to. She'll r;nse Hail Columbia. I don't care. She may 
scold to her heart's content. I am lutppy ; Augustus loves me and I 
have my bracelet, (takes dress, sits and seics.) 

Enter LonsE, l. 

Louise. My friend was not at home, (passes to s..) The useless 
visit hasn't improved my temper. 

Ara. (aside). That's cer tain. 

Louise. What's thnt you say ? 

Ara. Kothing, ma'am. A personal rellection, merely. *■ 

Louise. Please coiitine your reflections to mental ones. Is that 
dress ready yet ? 

Ara. Not quite. 

Louise. Not quite ? Bring it to me. (Arabella rises and hands 
it to her) Why, I declare, you've not sewed a stitch .' ince I've been 
gone, (hands it back and tees bracelet) Ah ! 

Ara. (l.). What's the matter ? 

Louise (r., aside). It cannot b^ possible, anel yet the resemblance. 
(aloud) That's a pretty bracelet you have on your arm there. 

Ara. (aside). She's jealous because I've got a present, (edoud) Beau- 
tiful, isn't it ? 

Louise. I've never seen you wear it before 

Ara. And good reason. It was presented to mc only a few 
minutes ago. 

Louise (aside). Am I on the point of a horrible discovery ? (alouc) 
Indeed I 

Ara. It just came from Tiffanv's. There's the box vet rn Hi ■ 
table, (asiiie') I'll make her feel sick, {aloud) Don't you think it ju.st 
suits my complexion ? 

Louise (aside). The impudent hussy ! And he ^ras so anxious to 
have me retain her, {aloud) Are you sure it was intended for you ? 

Ara. You may read the address on the cover, (emde) Humph, 
does she expect my Augustus to Siend her bracelets. I'd like to catch 
him. 



AIL ON ACCOUKT OF A BRACELET. 7 

Louise {examines cover, aside). It is addressed to her. Oh, I could 
scratch her eyes out. And I actually caught them making love to 
each other this morning, {aloud) He must love you dearly. 

Ara. Uetter than any woman on earth. 

Louise {aside). The brazen thing I How dare she tell me that to 
my face, {crosses to l., aloud) Oh, this perfectly outrageous. 

Ara. {crosses to r.). That I should have a lover and he should send 
me presents ? I see nothing outrageous about that. 

Louise {aside). She is driving me mad, but she shall not see how 
much I suffer, She shall leave the house, though, this very instant. 
{aloud) You need not finish my dress. I'll dispense with your further 
services. 

Ara. You mean to discharge me ? 

Louise. You may puck up your things and go. 

Ara. This is rather sudden. 

Louise. Sudden or not, I wont have you in the house a minute 
longer. 

Are. Very well, Mrs. Osgood. I will go. I cm find another 
situation as good as this and better too, and if anybody asks me why 
jou discharged me, I'll tell her because yon were envious at my re- 
ceiving the present of a bracelet when you haven't got any yourself. 
So there 1 [Exit, n. 

Louise {furioxs). Oh, the shameless hu?sy ! To twit me in this 
way. But this is perfectly awful. To deny me the bracelet, to give 
me his balderdash of bulls and bears, l.ambs and I know n(.t what 
letters of the alphabet, and then to send it to her — to her under my 
very roof ! Oh, it was all arranged between them this morning be- 
fore I came down. He had promised her the bracelet and found it 
very embarrassing when I asked him for it. Had I not come back 
so unexpectedly she would have had it hidden. Oh, Harry, how- 
could you have so shamefully deceived me, who so loved, so trusted 
you ! \iDeeps) But away Avith these weak, womanish tc ars. I'll show 
iiim the fuiy of a woman scorned. 1 11 leave the house this instant. 
I'll go back to my mother's, and he shall hear from me through my 
lawyers, [Exit, R. 

Enter Augustus, c. 

AuGTisTus. I had an errand to do for the shop and I thought I'd 
just slip in to see my darling Arabella for an instant. I can't stay 
more than a minute. I'm a slave to duty, and all for ten dollars a 
week. Oh, poverty, how thou dost crush the aspiring soul! Ara- 
bella's heart beats in unison with mine, but how can two hearts be 
joined iii conjugal bliss on ten dollars a week ? And there's that 
l)racelct gone too. How many times have I denied Arabella ice- 
cream, how many cigarettes 1 ave I left unsmoked in a vain attempt 
to save up money enough to by it for her. Under the most favorable 
circumst ;nces, on an income of ten dollars a week, I would have 
reached it in about two years. An<l now Mr. Osgood has purchased 
it. His wife will wear and flaunt it before Arabella's eyes. Such 
is luck when a person is hard up. I wonder, though, where Ara- 
bella is ? The servant at the door told me I would find her ia this 
room. 

Enter Arabella, r, 

Ara. Augustus, dear Augustus ! {rushes into 7iis arms.) 
Aug. (l.). My darling Arabella ! 



8 ALL OX ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 

Ara. (u.)- They told me you were here and I interrupted my pack- 
ing. 

Aug. Your packing ? 

Ara. I leave here to-day. I'm discharged. 

Aug. Discharged ? 

Aha. It's all on account of Mrs. Osgood's jealous3\ 

Aug. Ha ! Have you given her cause 

Ara. What are you dreaming of ? It's her spite, that's all. She's 
envious on account of your present, my dear; for which I thank you 
ever so much. 

Aug. My present ? 

Ara. The bracelet, you know. 

Aug. The bracelet ! what bracelet ? 

Ara. {shows arm). Why this. The one you sent me. 

Aug. I sent you that ? 

Ara. Wh}', of course. 

Aug. I ! on ten dollars a week ! 

Ara. Good heavens, Augustus, do you really want to deny that 
you sent it ? 

Aug. {crosses to r.). Good heavens, woman ! Do you really want, 
to pull the wool over my eyes ? Do you actually want to make me 
believe that I, a ten-dollar clerk, made you a present of a himdred- 
and-fifty-dollar bracelet, when I know tliat Mr. Osgood purchased it 
not an hour ago ? No, no, wom^n, I'm not such a fool as that. Ynur 
duplicity is revealed. Away ! I pluck you from my heart forever, I 
cast you off. But this blighter of my heart's fondest hopes, this — 
this Mr. No-goo(i, he shall feel the weight of my fury. I will have 
his blood ! I will have his blood ! Away ! \^Eiit, l. 

Ara. Augustus ! Augustus 1 stay, hear me ! He's gone. How 
can I convince him of my innocence. He is thirsting for Mr. 
Osgood's blood. If they meet there'll be a tragedy and all on ac- 
count of this luckless bracelet. But it serves Mr. Osgood right. 
Did he think to tempt me with a bauble ? He has ruined my hopes 
of happiness. If I catch him, he'll fmd out the kind of girl I am. 
I'll— I'll scratch his eyes out. \E.nt, r. 

Enter Harry, c. 

Harry. I gave particular directions to have the bracelet sent home 
at once. I was in such a hurry to get down town, that all I could 
do was to hand my wife's card to Ihe clerk. By Jove, that was a 
lucky stroke in C. C. and J. C. I'm about twenty thousand dollars 
richer than I was this morning, I couldn't stay in the office; I've 
hurried home to tell Louise of my good luck. But where is she ? I 
thought she'd just come rushing into my arms. All quiet ! Why, 
the house has positively a deserted air. I'm getting to bo alarmed.' 

Erder Augustus, l. 

Aug. Ha, traitor ! we have met at last, 
Harry (l.). What lunatic is this ? 
Aug. I deniand satisfaction. 

Harry. Satisfaction for what ? Aren't }^ou 'a little off in the 
upper story, young man ? 
Aug. You cannot pretend ignorance to me. The injury you have 



ALL OX ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 9 

done can only be wiped out in blood. I challenge you to a duel, sir. 
{crosses to e,.) 

Harry (crosses to l.). Where are your keepers ? It's dangerous to 
be letting such cranks running around loose. 

Aug. You cannot lord it over me in that way, though you are a 
rich broker and I'm only a ten-dollar clerk. I have a heart, sir, and 
honor, sir; you have'blighted the former and stained the latter. But 
I will have my revenge. Ill be back in five minutes with revolvers, 
sir, and if 3'Ou're not a coward, you'll meet me here in mortal com- 
bat. I go, but I will return. Beware ! [E.iii, c. 

Harry. He must be some stage-struck youlh gone mad. How 
did he get in the house, though ? These sort of cranks ouuht 1o be 
suppressed as a public nuisance. But where can Louise be staying ? 
I shall ring for a servant. It's getting to be decidedly uncomfortable 
here, (about to ring.) 

Enter Mrs. Osgood, r., mth jMri^ot, lap-clog, bandboxes, etc. 

Hello ! 

Louise (r.). Ha ! base, faithless deceiver ! 

Harry (aside, l.). Has she, too, gone crazy ? (aloud) My dear 
Louise ! 

Louise, Is not j'our own roof sacred ? 

Harry. Of course it is. I gave particular directions to have it 
made so. My dear, wont you please explain the extraordinary bag- 
gage you have loaded yourself with ? This isn't the first of May. 

Louise. A guilty conscience needs no accuser. I leave this house 
forever. My poor pets are all I take with me. My mother and my 
lawyers will wait upon you in connection with the divorce proceed- 
ings I shall at once institute. Tremble, wretch, your day of reckon- 
ing has come. [Exit, l. 

Harry. Well, I should say it had. What has come over the house? 
Has everybody gone crazy during my absence ? Is this all the re- 
turn I get for my bracelet ? 

Enter Arabella, l., toitJi bandboxes, etc. 

By Jove, another lunatic ! 

Ara. (l.). Miserable wretch . 

Harry (R., aside). I thought so. They've all caught it from the 
stage-struck youth. This is tne first time I've known that insanity 
was infectious. 

Ara. Can you look in my eyes and not sink through the floor with 
shame ? 

Harry (aloud). I say, Arabella, do all you lunatics do nothing but 
ask conundrums ? 

Ara. You may laugh over the havoc you have caused, but it will 
avMil you nothing. The avenger is on your track. 

Harry. Was ever a mortal thus harassed ! One challenges me to 
mortal combat, another fires the day of reckoning at me, and now 
an avenger is put on my track. My dear xlrabella, yoii were always 
a sensible girl; if you are not too far gone in lunacy, wont you please 
explain what I have done ? 

Aha. Wh\t you have done ? You presume to ask Ihe question of 
me, whose heart you have blighted, whose betrothed you have 
estranged, whose fidelity you have tempted with this bauble, (throws 



10 ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 

bracelet at Ms feet) Take back your gift — and take this, too. {Hirows 
barulhox at Mm and exit, ii. ) 

Hakky {picks up bracelet). My wife's bracelet ! IIow does she 
come to have it ? Her words, my wife's demeanor, the young luna- 
tic, who is evidently Arabella's lover— Ah, a light dawns on my 
mind. Where's the parcel it came in ? {examines parcel on table) Ah, 
here it is. {bursts into a jit oflaugMng) Oh. bo, ha, ha ! {sinks on sofa 
laugMng.) 

Eiiter AvGVSTVS, c, iciih two revolvers. 

Aug. You are laughing, wretch, over the misery you have caused. 

Harry {rises, r.). Oh dear, there's that lunatic again. 

Aug. (l.). Here are two revolvers. Choose one for yourself. 

Harry. Here, hold on ! Don't point them at me in\hat way. If 
they're loaded they may go off. 

Aug. Each revolver has seven chambers, in each chamber is a 
bullet. If each bullet were to pierce your dastardly heart you would 
not get more than you deserve. 

Harry. But, my dear fellow, if I have in anywise injured you 

Aug. You have, in the most sensitive part of my being. 

Harry. Your head ? 

Aug. No, my heart. But I'll dally no longer, {hands revolver to 
Mm) Count off thirty paces. At the word three we fire, and Heaven 
preserve tlie right. 

Harry {aside). I'll play him a little to see if he's really in earnest. 
{aloud) Very well, we will fight since you are determined on it, but 
I give you warning that I'm a dead shot. 

Aug. I care not. What is life worth to me without Arabella ? 

Hauby {aside). I like his pluck any way. {they face each other) Now, 
one, two — {they aim.) 

Enter Louise, l. , with parrot, lap-dog, bandbox, etc., and Arabella, 
R., icith bandboxes, etc. They drop their bundles. 

Louise and Ara. A duel ! {they shriek, Louise rusJies into E-ARRy's 
arms; Arabella into Augustus'. Momentary tableau.) 

Harry. Back again, madam ? I thought you had left for good ? 

Louise. I'm not here for your sake, monster. 

Harry. You embraced me very tighlly, though. 

Louise. My mother is below. She obliged me to come back and 
demand a personal explanation from you. 

Harry. Give my compliments to your mother. She's a very sensi- 
ble woman. If all of you had not chosen to go off stark, staring mad, 
I would, before this, have been able to explain that Arabella's card 
must have been in your card-case, and that in my hurry I took it 
without Inoking at it. 

Aug. Then you intended the bracelet for your wife and not for 
Arabella ? 

Harry. Of course. 

Aug. {to Arabella). Ah, my darling, how I have wronged you. 
Can you forgive me ? 

Ara. In your love I breathe again, {embrace.) 

Harry {to Louise). If you still confide in my love and fidelity, I 
hope you will sliow it by accepting my gift, which, innocently 
enough, has been the cause of all this trouble. 



ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A BRACELET. 11 

Louise {liolds out arm, he puts on bracelet). Dear Harry, I'm so glad 
it was all a mistake. 

Aug. Really, Mr. Osgood, you owe me some reparation for the 
agony I have endured. 

Harry. My dear boy, if it lies in my power 

Aug. It does. I love Arabella to distraction and she does me, yet 
I fear we'll both be distracted, before I can see my way clear to sup- 
port her on ten dollars a week. Now, if you'd only take me into 
your employ at a reasonable salary, say 

Harry. Twenty-five dollars a week, would that do ? 

Ara. Oh, sir, you are too generous. 

Louise. Why, mother waits below. Shall we not call her up, 
dear Harry ? 

Harry. Of course ; and we'll entertain the dear old lady, {stepping 
forward to ondience) and all our friends, I hope ; with a narrative of 
the haps and mishaps, which arose 

Louise. All on account of a bracelet. 

Harry, r. Louise, r. Augustus, l. Arabella, l. 

CURTAIN. 



ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. 



" Let those laugh now who never laughed before, 
And those who ahvaya laughed now laugh the more." 

Slothing so thorough and complete in the way of Ethiopian and Comic DramaJ 
ftsy e\er been printed as those that appear in the following list. Not only are thoj 
ty'ior.!* excellent, the characters droll, the incidents funnj , the language humorous! 
[but a*,* the situations, bj--play, positions, pantomimic business, scenery, and tricks 
'are scj/Ialnly set down and clearly explained, that the merest novice could put 
any of tuem on the stage. Included in this catalogue are all the most laughable 
and effective pieces of their class ever produced. 

#*# In ordering, please copy the figures at the commencement of each play, 
which indicate the number of the piece in " De Witt's Ethiopian and Comic 
Drama." 

^^ Any of the following plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price— 
X5 Cents Each. Address, 

"^ : ' ' ' ' . DE WITT, 

JSTb. 33 Rose Street, JVew York, 



!E^" The figures Jn the columns indicate the number of characters— M. ma/*. 



No. M. F. 

73. African Box, burlesque, 2 scene 5 
107. Africanus Bluebeard, musical 

Ethiopian burlesque 6 2 

43. Baby Elephant, sketch, 2 scene 7 1 
79. Barney's Courtship, musical 

inteijude, 1 act 1 1 

42. Bad Waiakey, sketch, 1 scene. 2 1 
6. Black Ci\ap from Whitechapel, 

negro piece 4 

10. Black Cheuiist, sketch, 1 scene 3 

11. Black-ey'd William, sketch, 2 

scenes 4 1 

40. Big Mistake, sketch, 1 scene . . 4 
78. Bogus Indian, sketch, 4 scenes 5 2 
89. Bogus Talking Machines (The) 

farce, 1 scene 4 

Hi. Bruised and Cured, sketch, 1 

scene 2 

108. Charge of the Hash Brigade, 

Irish musical sketch 2 2 

35. Coal Heaver's Revenge, negro 

sketch, 1 scene 6 

41. Cremation, sketch, 2 scenes... 8 1 
,12. Daguerreotypes, sketch, 1 scene 3 

53. Dainon and Pythias, burlesque, 

2 scenes 5 J 

63. Darkey's Stratagenv 1 act 3 1 

110. De Black Magician, Ethiopian 

comicality, i scene 4 2 

til. Deeds of Darkness, Ethiopian 

extravaganza, 1 act 6 1 

50. Draft (Tlie), sketch, 1 act 6 

%i Dutchman's Ghost, 1 scene... 4 1 



No. M. ?. 

95. Dutch Justice, sketch, 1 sr.ene 11 

67. Editor's Troubles, farce, 1 r.ce. 6 

4. Eh ? What is It ? sketch 4 J 

98. Elopement (The), farce, 1 scene 4 1 
52. Excise Trials, sketch, 1 scene. 10 J 
25. Feliow that Looks Like Me, in- 
terlude, 1 scene — .... 2 * 

51. Fisherman's Luck, 1 scene 2 C 

88. First Night (The), Dutch farce, 

1 act 4 !i 

106. Gambrinus, King of Lager 
Beer, Ethiopian burlesquf 2 

scenes . . g j 

83. German Emigrant (The), sketch 

1 scene g 3 

77. Getting Square on the Call Boy, 

sketch, 1 scene 3 

17. Ghost (The), sketch, 1 act 2 G 

58. Ghost in a Pawnshop, 1 scene. 4 G 

31. Glycerine Oil, sketch .3 C 

20. Gonig f or the Cup, interlude.. 4 Q 

82. Good Night's Rest, 1 scene. .. 3 Q 

86. Gripsack, sketch, 1 scene 3 

70. Guide to the Stage, sketch 3 C 

61. Happy Couple, 1 scene 2 1 

23. Hard Times, extravaganza, 1 

scene 5 1 

3. Hemmed la, sketch 3 \ 

48. High Jack, the Heeler, 1 scen^ 6 

G8. Hippotheatron, sketch 9 

71. In and Out, sketch, 1 scene... 2 

33. Jealous Husband, sketch 2 1 

94. Julius, the Snoozer, 8 scenes , ? i 



^ 



DE \AriTrs ACTING PLAYS (Continued). 



No. 

144. 
S4. 
137. 

111. 
119. 
165. 

48. 

32. 
164. 
109. 

85. 

87. 
143. 
189. 
163. 
154. 

63. 

39. 
7. 

49. 

15. 

46. 

^1. 
184. 
108. 



130. 
92. 
193. 

140. 

115. 



104. 
112. 
]85. 
84. 

117. 

171. 
14. 

173. 
176. 

90. 
170. 

83. 
3. 

97. 



172. 
94, 
45. 

155. 

178. 

147. 
156. 
82, 
127. 



62 



M. F. 

Laccaahire Lass, melodrama, 5 acts.l2 3 

Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act.. 3 2 

L' Article 47, drama, 3 acts 11 5 

Liar (The), comedy, 2 acts 7 2 

Life Chase, drama, 5 acts 14 5 

Living Statue (The), farce, 1 act. ... 3 2 

Little Annie's Birthday, farce, 1 act. 2 4 



Little Rebel, farce, 1 act 

Little Ruby, drama, 3 acts 6 6 

Locked In, comedietta, 1 act 2 2 

Locked In with a Lady, sketch, 1 act. 1 1 

Locked Out, comic scene 1 2 

Lodgers an.i Dodgers, farce, 1 act. . 4 2 

Leap Year, musical duality, 1 act. . . 1 1 

Marcoretti, drama, 3 acts 10 3 

Maria and Magdalena, play, 4 acts . 8 6 

Marriage at Any Price, farce, 1 act . 5 3 

Master Jones' Birthday, farce, 1 act. 4 2 

Maud's Peril, drama, 4 acts 5 3 

Midnight Watch, drama, 1 act 8 2 

Milky White, drama, 2 acts 4 2 

Miriam's Crime, drama, 3 acts 5 2 

Model of a Wife, farce, 1 act 3 2 

Money, comedy, 5 acts 17 3 

Mr. Scroggins, farce, i act 3 3 

Mr. X., farce, 1 act 3 3 

My Uncle's Suit, farce, 1 act 4 1 

My Wife's Diary, farce, 1 act 3 1 

My Wife's Out, farce, 1 act 2 2 

My Walking Photograph, musical' 

duality, 1 act 1 ^ 

Never Reckon Your Chickens, etc., 

farce, 1 act 3 4 

New Men and Old Acres, comedy, 3 8 5 

Nobody's Child, drama, 3 acts 8 3 

Noemie, drama, 2 acts 4 4 

No Name, drama, 5 acts 7 5 

Not a Bit Jealous, farce, 1 act- .... 3 ^ 

Not So Bad as We Seem, play, 5 acts. 14 3 

Not Guilty, drama, 4 acts. . ." 10 6 

Not Such a Fool as He Looks, drama, 

3 acts 5 4 

Nothing Like Paste, farce, 1 act S 1 

No Thoroughfare, drama, 5 acts and 

prologue 13 6 

Off the Stage, comedietta, 1 act 3 3 

On Bread and Water, farce, 1 act. . . 1 2 

Only a Halfpenny, farce, 1 act 2 2 

Only Somebody, farce, 1 act 4 2 

One too Many for Him, farce, 1 act. 2 3 

£100,000, comedy, 3 acts 8 4 

Orange Blo-soms, comedietta, 1 act. 3 3 
Orange Girl, drama, in prologue 

and 3 acts 18 4 

Ours, comedy, 3 acts 6 3 

Our Clerks, farce, 1 act 7 5 

Our Domestics, comedy farce, 2 acts 6 6 

Our Heroes, military play. 5 acts. . .24 5 
Out at Sea, drama in prologue and 

4 acts 16 5 

Overland Route, comedy, 3 acts 11 5 

Peace at Any Price, rarce, 1 act ... 1 1 

Peep o' Day, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

Peggy Green, fan e, 1 act 3 10 

Petticoat Parliament, extravaganza, 

in one act 15 24 

Photographic Fix, farce, 1 act 3 2 

A COMPLETE 



No. M. r 

61. Plot and Passion, drama, 3 acts. ... 7 % 

138. Poll and Partner Joe, burlesque, 1 

act 10 3 

110. Poppleton's Predicaments, farce, 13 4 

50. Porter's Knot, drama, 2 acts. ...... 8 2 

59. Post Boy, drama, 2 acts 5 3 

95. Pretty Horse-Breaker, farce, 1 act.. 3 10 

181 and 182. Queen Mary, drama, 4 act8.38 8 

157. Quite at Home, comedietta, 1 act. . . 5 8 
196. Queerest Courtship (The), comic op 

eretta, 1 act I 1 

132. Race for a Dinner, farce, 1 act 10 ■ 

183. Richelieu, play, 5 acts . .16 2 

38. Rightful Heir, drama, 5 acts 10 2 

77. Roll of the Drum, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

13. Ruy Bias, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

194. Rum, drama, 3 acts 7 4 

105. Rosemi Shell, travesty, 1 act, 4 

scenes 6 3 

158. School, comedy, 4 acts 6 6 

79. Sheep in Wolf's Clothing, drama, 17 5 

37. Silent Protector, farce, 1 act. ...... 3 2 

35. Silent Woman, farce, 1 act 2 1 

43. Sisterly Service, comedietta, 1 act.. 7 2 

6. Six Months Ago, comedietta, 1 act. 2 1 

10. Snapping Turtles, duologue, 1 ac«. . 1 1 

26. Society, comedy, 3 acts 16 5 

78. 'jp^-cial Performances, farce, 1 act. . 7 3 
31. Taming a Tiger, farce, 1 act 3 

W). Tell-Tale Heart, comedietta, 1 act. . 1 2 

I'^O. Tempest in a Teapot, comedy, 1 act. 2 1 
146. There's no Smoke Without Fire, 

comedietta, 1 act , . I 2 

83. Thrice Married, personation piece. 

lact '.,..6 1 

42. Time and the Hour, drama, 3 acts. . 7 3 

27. Time and Tide, drama, 3 acta and 

7 5 

4 2 



prologue 

133. Timothy to the Rescue, farce, 1 act. 
153. 'Tis Better to Live than to Die, 

farce, 1 act 

134. Tompkins the Troubadour, farce, 1 
29. Turning the Tables, farce, 1 act 

168. Tweedie's Rights, comedy, 2 acts.. 

126. Twice Killed, farce, 1 act 

56. Two Gay Deceivers, farce, 1 act 

123. Two Polts, farce, 1 act 4 

198. Twin Sisters (The), comic operetta, 

lact 3 

Uncle's Will, comedietta, 1 act. .... 2 
Up for the Cattle Show, farce, 1 act. 6 

Vandyke Brown, farce, 1 act 3 

Volunteer Review, farce, 1 act 6 

Walpole, comedy, 3 acts 7 

.. Wanted, a Young Lady, farce, 1 act. 3 
44, War to the Knife, comedy, 3 acts. .. 5 
105. Which ofthe Two? comedietta, lact 2 

98. Who is Who? farce, 1 act 3 

12. Widow Hunt, comedy, 3 acts. 4 

5. William Tell with a Vengeance, 

burlesque 

Woman in Red, drama, 3 acts and 

prologue 6 

Woman's Vows and Mason's Oaths, 

4 acts 10 

11. Woodcock's Little Game, farce, 2 4 
.54. Young Collegian (Cantab.), farce, 1 3 



2 1 

3 2 

5 3 

4 2 

6 3 
3 



106, 
81, 

124. 
91, 

118. 



136. 
161. 



8 % 



DESCRIPTIVE CATAIiOGUE 



of DE WITT S ACTING PLAYS AND DE WITT*S 
ETHIOPIAN AN D COMIC DRAMAS , containing Plot. Costume, Scenery, 
Time of Representation and every other information, mailed free and post paid. 



yBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 102 147 7 ^ 



M iBiispeisaMii Boflt for Amaleirs. 

HOW TO MAMSE 
AMATEtJE THEATRICilLS. 



Being plain instructions for construction and arrangement of Stage, 
making Scenery, getting up Costumes, '■'•Making Up"*' to represent 
different ages and characters, and how to produce stage lUusions and 
Effects. Also hints for the management of Amateur Dramatic Clubs, 
and a list of pieces suitable for Drawing Room Performances. Hand- 
somely illustrated with Colored Plates. 

PHce^ 25 Cents. 



DE WITT'S SELECTIONS 

FOR 

AllATEi AMI PARLOR THEATRICALS. 

Nos. 1, 2, 3 &; 4. 

Being choice selections from the very best Dramas, Comedies and 
Farces. Specially adapted for presentation by Amateurs, and for 
Parlor and Drawing Room Entertainments. 

Edcli number, 25 Cents, 

PANTOMIME PLAY , 

"HUMPTY DUMPTY." 

The celebrated Pantomime, as originally played for 1,000 nights by the 
late Gkokge L. Fox. Arranged by John Denier, p]sq. Eight male, 
four female characters, 

Price, 25 Cents. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



llllllllllllllllllllllllli 
016 102 147 7 



